DA calls for Old Forge to fire suspended Police Chief Larry Semenza

By TERRIE MORGAN-BESECKER (STAFF WRITER)Published: October 24, 2013

Lackawanna County District Attorney Andy Jarbola on Wednesday urged Old Forge borough officials to take immediate action to fire suspended Police Chief Larry Semenza based on his conviction for corruption of a minor and another offense.

In a letter to Old Forge Mayor Michelle Avvisato, Mr. Jarbola said Chief Semenza is no longer eligible to be a police officer based on the corruption of a minor charge, a first-degree misdemeanor which carries a maximum sentence of more than a year in prison.

State regulations forbid anyone convicted of a crime punishable by more than a year in prison from being a police officer. The offense also requires the chief to register as a sex offender under Megan's Law.

"It is an important step for the Old Forge Police Department and residents of Old Forge to allow the process of selecting a new leader for the borough's police force to begin with all deliberate speed," Mr. Jarbola said.

Borough solicitor Gerard Karam said he was aware of Mr. Jarbola's letter. He said the borough expects to make a decision on Chief Semenza's position "in the near future," but first wants to wait to see if he files any post-trial motions in his case.

"We are taking everything into consideration, including the advice of the district attorney," he said.

Chief Semenza has been suspended without pay since his arrest in May 2012 on charges he sexually abused a teenage girl who served as a junior firefighter from 2004 to 2007, starting when she was 15.

A jury on Tuesday acquitted him of felony counts of aggravated indecent assault and unlawful contact with a minor and misdemeanor counts of indecent exposure and indecent assault. He was convicted of corruption of minor, with the basis of that offense being sexual contact, and failure to report suspected child abuse.

The child abuse charge relates to his failure to report that former Old Forge volunteer firefighter Walter Chiavacci had told him he had abused the same girl the chief was charged with abusing. Mr. Chiavacci, who pleaded guilty to indecent assault, testified at trial that he had spoken to the chief about his concerns he was going to be arrested. As a police officer, Chief Semenza was required to report that information to Children and Youth Services, but failed to do so.

Contact the writer: tbesecker@timesshamrock.com

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